Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith

[gothwalk]

I considered writing a long review of everything that was wrong with this film, but I've realised that I'd be here for longer than it took to watch. Let me tell you what was good instead. It had really good visuals, especially when none of the lead characters were in sight. Some of the effects were really good, and a few of the planets (seen only briefly, unfortunately) were gorgeous.

Unfortunately, that's all I can say that's good about it. The actors, beaten into submission by the worst script ever, had clearly given up trying. The dialogue was really, really, really awful. It was so bad that I'm examining its badness for meaning - and not finding any. The plot went from A to B in the most predictable manner possible. The bad guys were bad, the good guys were incompetent and inconsistent, and the rest of the universe stood by, pretty much.

I honestly can't believe how bad it was. It's the movie equivalent of producing a beautifully made, full colour, illustrated hardback book, unedited and not even proofread.

Comments

[silme.livejournal.com]

We saw it today. I'm comparing it to a train wreck. There honestly were times I was ready to leave and wait in the lobby for Ian. But it was like a train wreck; I found myself staying there and watching all the way to the end.

[lumen.livejournal.com]

The Finnish review I linked to a little while ago in my journal compared the movie to an illustrated storybook for toddlers, and after having seen the movie myself I could see why. Clumsy dialogue that only serves to underline the obvious mixed with beautiful visuals.

What I find far more interesting than the movie itself is the way it has split up both the audiences and the reviewers in two completely different groups. The first raves on about it - one of my friend even stated that in her opinion, Star Wars III was storytelling at its finest. Since I seem to belong in the second group, I couldn't disagree more.
I usually see this kind of division only amongst the fans, but when reviewers begin do the same, that's when things get interesting. Granted, I'm not an avid follower of the movie industry nor do I read Finnish movie reviews that often, but I think the difference has to be very clear when even a random movie-goer such as myself can notice it. I find this fascinating.

[m-nivalis.livejournal.com]

At first, it was a matter of course that I should see it, but after reading review after review, I've decided not to. I've got the general story already in the reviews and rants, and there are certain things I believe I can live well without seeing, and will not interfere with re-watching the original trilogy. As fearlessdiva said regarding her Phantom menace fanfic: "Because we like to think of canon as The Bad AU". There were enough things in Part 1&2 that made me go: No, that's not how it should be. That takes away the whole meaning of it/makes it tacky/ etc.

Sigh. If only he had used a good scriptwriter...

[gothwalk.livejournal.com]

Star Wars III was storytelling at its finest

How is this point of view defended?

From my point of view, it had enormous plot holes, and very poor use of archetypes, where they were there at all (and this is Lucas - the original trilogy was all archetype, all the time).

And one more hanging-over-a-drop-from-one-hand scene, and I was ready to scream.

[lumen.livejournal.com]

This is the best Star Wars review I have seen or heard so far.

[silme.livejournal.com]

Well, it's sort of the way it happens when everyone slows down to view the road accident. You don't want to; you want to keep driving, but you find yourself drawn to it, forcing yourself to look.

It was utterly wretched. And this comes from a person who saw the original the day it opened in 1977.

[lumen.livejournal.com]

>How is this point of view defended?

I really wouldn't know. To me "Star Wars is storytelling at its finest" is an oxymoron.

But then, she is the biggest Star Wars fan I know. I didn't pursue the issue because I knew she'd be hurt by negative feedback on her thoughts. I didn't want to take her thunder away on her big moment; she had been waiting for this movie for such a long time.
In the end, I felt it was a matter of opinion, and that the movie simply wasn't worth the time I'd spend debating its shortcomings with a diehard fan. I can at least try and appreciate her enthusiasm even though I don't understand what it's all about.

[gothwalk.livejournal.com]

With such people, I'm inclined to back off too; they often have too much invested in the franchise to look at it objectively. In a few months, I think many of these people might change their opinions, or at least not defend the film so vigourously.

[mr-flay.livejournal.com]

Amen to that. I got the impression that the only reason anyone is saying it's quite good (and that is the best thing I've heard said about it by anybody) is because it's not quite as buttock-clenchingly piss-poor as the last two.

It's worth bearing in mind that Irvin Kershner, who directed episode V, cut his teeth on dramas/comedies/thrillers such as The Eyes Of Laura Mars and unlike Lucas, decided to let the space opera/SFX bits look after themselves and concentrate on the human/emotional bits of the drama. This is why it's the best one IMO, because the characters are engaging.